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HAUMANU COLLECTIVE

Ko te whakarauora o ngā Tonga Pūoro te kaupapa mātua o tēnei rōpū

Pānui Hou

Featured Instrument

Pūrerehua / Turorohu

Pūrerehua or turorohu create eerie sounds as they spin on the ends of their cords. Stories are told of them calling rain, summoning tears and even enticing food from hiding places.

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Taonga Pūoro Events

Our story

Reviving taonga pūoro

Taonga Pūoro were historically used in the arts of healing and cultural ceremonies and still are today, in varying degrees. Due to historical events, there was a decline in the use and cultural practice of the instrumental traditions within Māori culture and with the knowledge base connected to it. 

There has been a revival of this craft over the last 30-40 years, led by the late Hirini Melbourne, the late Richard Nunns, Brian Flintoff and Ranginui Keefe, Joe Malcolm, Clem Mellish, the late Rangiiria Hedley, Aroha Yates Smith, Hinewīrangi Kohu Morgan, Ross and Bruce Gregory, Te Miringa Hohaia and others. Haumanu has grown from these initiatives.

Dr Hirini Melbourne with his pūkāea Tamanui. Photo: University of Waikato

Haumanu Collective

The group is dedicated to the revival, teaching, and sharing of these taonga. We are a newly formed rōpū of six people, are representatives of the wider rōpū, and a continuation of Haumanu.

Mandated by the broader Taonga Pūoro whānau with the support of CNZ and MCH to facilitate a Strengthening Taonga Pūoro strategy over the next three years.

The core collective are:

HAUMANU COLLECTIVE  KAUPAPA

Ko te piko te māhuri, Koia te tipu o te rākau. He rito tangata, he mauri reo, he mauri oro, he mauri ora!
To nurture, to grow

To support the retention and revitalisation of critically endangered mātauranga Taonga Pūoro , working in partnership with tohunga, pūkenga, experienced and emerging practitioners. The programme covers all aspects of mātauranga Taonga Pūoro, including tikanga and reo related to Taonga Pūoro making, performance, composition and in healing.
Activation : He Maiangitanga ake
He maiangitanga ake is in reference to the first surge of the waka haurua a the wind hits their sails. Our pūrakau speak of an occasion during the great migrations from the Pacific where the wind ceased to blow and left the waka flotilla still in the water. After reciting the karakia to Tawhiri (te Kawa o Tawhiri) the wind picked up and the sudden surge forward was known as Te Maiangitanga ake.
Foundation : He Pakiaka whakarētō
This rerenga kōrero is in reference to whakapapa. To the times of te wehenga o Ranginui rāua ko Papatūānuku. When Tane braced himself against his mother he sank his roots deep to provide the foundation to separate his parents and bring light to the world.
Preservation : He Hiringa Mahara
This rerenga kōrero refers to both the power of the mind and its perseverance and determination. Ko tahi tonu te hiringa i kake ai a Tane ki tikitiki o Rangi Ko te Hiringa i te mahara. It was the determination of Tane's mind that enabled him to ascend to the highest of heavens, there he retrieved the baskets of knowledge.
Indigenise : Kia Māori
There is no translation for indigionise in the Māori language. This term is a colonial point of view where because of the upheaval of colonisation we need to return to being indigenous. From the perspective of te ao māori all we can be is Māori. Pai tū, Pai hinga, kia Māori!
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James Webster and Horomona Horo at Kirikiriroa marae

James Webster and Horomona Horo at Kirikiriroa marae ...

Eli Maiava performing at the book launch for Hineraukatauri.  #taongapūoro #maoriart #toimaori #haumanucollective #taongapuoro

Eli Maiava performing at the book launch for Hineraukatauri.
#taongapūoro #maoriart #toimaori #haumanucollective #taongapuoro
...

Pūkāea #taongapuoro #toimaori #maoriart #taongapūoro #haumanucollective #Pūkāea

Pūkāea
#taongapuoro #toimaori #maoriart #taongapūoro #haumanucollective #Pūkāea
...

Horomona Horo teaching tamariki about Taonga Puōro at the book launch of 'Hineraukatauri' #taongapuoro #haumanucollective #toimaori #maoriart #taongapūoro #Hineraukatauri

Horomona Horo teaching tamariki about Taonga Puōro at the book launch of `Hineraukatauri` #taongapuoro #haumanucollective #toimaori #maoriart #taongapūoro #Hineraukatauri ...

James Webster playing the Pūtātara #maoriart #taongapuoro #taongapūoro #haumanucollective #toimaori ##pūtātara

James Webster playing the Pūtātara
#maoriart #taongapuoro #taongapūoro #haumanucollective #toimaori ##pūtātara
...

Horomona HoroNGATI POROU, NGA PUHI #taongapuoro #taongapūoro #maoriart #toimaori #haumanucollective #Pūkāea

Horomona Horo
NGATI POROU, NGA PUHI
#taongapuoro #taongapūoro #maoriart #toimaori #haumanucollective #Pūkāea
...

The Pūtōrino is a flute unique to Aotearoa. It is torpedo-shaped (tapering at each end), like the cocoon of the case moth into which Raukatauri changed herself. #taongapūoro #toimaori #haumanucollective #taongapuoro #maoriart #Hineraukatauri

The Pūtōrino is a flute unique to Aotearoa. It is torpedo-shaped (tapering at each end), like the cocoon of the case moth into which Raukatauri changed herself. #taongapūoro #toimaori #haumanucollective #taongapuoro #maoriart #Hineraukatauri ...

Nau mai Haere mai